[Hepatitis C virus in rheumatic diseases].
HCV-infection is an important infectious disease in rheumatology. It is the cause of mixed cryoglobulinemia and other rheumatic manifestations develop frequently during HCV-infection. These comprise: Sicca-syndrome, thromboembolic events associated with anti-cardiolipin antibodies and fibromyalgia. Also associated with HCV-infection is a non-erosive polyarthritis. This synovitis often fulfills the ACR-criteria for rheumatoid arthritis, but the disease course is different with frequent remissions and non-erosive joint involvement. The following autoantibodies are associated with HCV-infection: Cryoglobulins, rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies (ANA), antismooth muscle antibodies (SMA), anti-phospholipid-antibodies and anti-thyroid-antibodies. In HCV-associated sicca-syndrom, antibodies against Ro (SSA) and La (SSB) are not detected. The course of HCV-infection is often occult, without elevation of liver enzymes. We summarize the clinical and serological signs and symptoms when HCV-infection should be suspected and when HCV-testing should be performed in a rheumatological setting. The identification of HCV-infection in rheumatic patients is important to minimize the risk of aggravating hepatitis by prescription of hepatotoxic drugs and because of the availability of alpha-interferon as a potential virus eradicating agent.
Jendro
M C
MC
Abteilung Rheumatologie Medizinische Hochschule Hannover.
Hülsemann
J L
JL
Zeidler
H
H
D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000209:etiology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000209:etiology; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000209:etiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000209:etiology
Das Hepatitis C-Virus und rheumatische Erkrankungen.